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Topic Review (Newest First)

10-06-2013 08:19 AM

MouseFink

I have never owned any Hemi engines.

A friend of mine, who was a local auto repair shop owner and only mechanic, collected 1953-1958 Dodge Red Ram, Desoto Fire Dome and Chrysler Fire Power hemi engines. He was a hot rodding genius and could installa Hemi engine in anything. For example, in 1969 he installed a 392 CI Chrysler Fire Power hemi in a '55 Studebaker coupe. In 1971, he installed a 480 CI BB Chevy in a 1965 Corvette. He also installed a Ford 9-inch rear end and a straight front axle in that Corvette, which was popular at the time. That Corvette was street driven.

10-06-2013 01:43 AM

fstfish66

sounds wild,,,, ill gladly take the desoto hemi off your hands since you have no use,,lol

10-05-2013 07:02 AM

MouseFink

In 1961-1964, my high-school friend and I bought a all steel 1923 Ford T-bucket truck roadster that had a 1959 389 Pontiac Tri-power engine in it. It was black primer and partially finished but it ran great. It had a B-W T-10 4-speed transmission but the T-bucket was so light, we only used three forward gears. We drove it for two years without a windshield because repro windshield frames were difficult to find in those days. In 1963, we finally obtained a repro aluminum windshield frame and put glass in it and that kept the bugs out of our teeth. . When the Pontiac engine spun a rod bearing, we replaced the Pontiac engine with a fresh SB Chevy 283 + .030" OS engine, Duntov solid lifter cam and a Rochester 4-barrel carb. We installed long headers that ran along the sides and the collector dumped in front of the rear tires. Had to be careful when exiting the T-bucket and step over the headers or you would burn your leg. We could punch the Pontiac Tri-power at 40 MPH and see 2" of daylight under the front tires but it was a death trap at 100 MPH on a public highway with pavement that was not perfectly level.

The '23 T-bucket truck actually ran and handled better with the SB Chevy 283 engine because the SB Chevy engine weighed 575 lb. and the 389 Pontiac weighed about 650 lb. Engine weight is a big consideration and the lighter engines handle and perform better in a roadster. We installed a pair of 11"- 9.50 x 14 Bruce slicks on it and the clocked it with a stopwatch in a accurately measured 1/4 mile and it turned respectable 8.00 - 8.50 ET.

We had a complete 330 CI Hemi engine we pulled from a '56 DeSoto. The 330 CI DeSoto Hemi weighed more than 720 lb. We decided that engine was too heavy for a '23 T-bucket truck with drum brakes.

10-05-2013 12:46 AM

fstfish66

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishness

Here is my 430 cu blown Hemi 1180lb car drives like a rocket, hooks up well because its so light and (Mickeys pro street tires) ...just lv to smoke them crotch rockets and big blocks lol have not been out run yet here in Denver CO 60' or 1/8

very kool

10-04-2013 07:10 PM

irishness

430 cu blown Hemi in my T-bucket

Here is my 430 cu blown Hemi 1180lb car drives like a rocket, hooks up well because its so light and (Mickeys pro street tires) ...just lv to smoke them crotch rockets and big blocks lol have not been out run yet here in Denver CO 60' or 1/8

11-27-2012 01:51 AM

fstfish66

the fat rat T is pretty kool

11-23-2012 07:56 AM

MouseFink

In 1963, my friend and I bought a all metal '23 Ford T-bucket truck roadster and installed a '59 389 CI Tri-power Pontiac engine in it. We ran it like that for about 2 years before we decided to sell the heavy Pontiac engine and replace it with a 283 CI Chevy engine with 2 - 4 barrel WCFB carbs. We had a B-W 4-speed in it but never used 1st gear. It took us a year to find a new repro windshield frame. It had the original '23 T doors and you had to step wide when you got out or suffer a severe burn by the hot exhaust collector.

Even with the little SBC, and the 8.00 x 14 Goodyear "cheater slicks", the bite was so good the driver could see daylight under the left tire when punching it at 60 MPH. That T-bucket truck was "King of the Street" at the midnight outlaw drags for five years. It was a death trap, no seat belts and no roll cage, and with the black primer paint, it would be considered a "rat rod" by todays standards.

10-19-2012 06:22 PM

tjet

I think this will be the "kit" i'm going to get It's a wider T bucket by NEHR Speedcraft

I think it will allow more room for the steering & pedals (I'm using an extended bell 331 hemi)

very kool ,wondering how it runs on the street,,from what i know they like wide open throttle,,,and can be a night mare in traffic,,,had a friend that was trying to get a set up like that sorted out,,,

I havn't had it in traffic for long periods of time but for 15 or 20 minutes (or as long as it takes to get out of town) it runs fine.

09-25-2012 10:17 PM

fstfish66

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeSoto

here's where mine sits. Half in and half out due to the negative curvature of the firewall.

If you want it flush, you'll probably have to move the radiator significantly forward.

looking at your engine pics,,what is the oil fill/breather cap deal ?? some thing you made out of stainless or what ??

09-25-2012 10:14 PM

fstfish66

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzHemiT

It's mechanical stack injection, I have been thinking about going to efi but I can't bring myself to do it.

very kool ,wondering how it runs on the street,,from what i know they like wide open throttle,,,and can be a night mare in traffic,,,had a friend that was trying to get a set up like that sorted out,,,

09-04-2012 03:58 AM

AzHemiT

It's mechanical stack injection, I have been thinking about going to efi but I can't bring myself to do it.

09-04-2012 12:18 AM

fstfish66

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzHemiT

A few more pics of my T bucket.

nice looking T bucket,, is that efi or mechanical stack injection ?

08-25-2012 09:40 PM

AzHemiT

A few more pics of my T bucket.

06-22-2012 12:59 AM

fstfish66

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeSoto

I quit going the year I blew the tire on the way home from Louisville. I was back in Emmaus the weekend before Macungie picking the car up to haul it back to my friend's body shop.

I'd already become disenchanted with the new WOTSRA event management and their revamping of the parking layout anyway and when the tire let go, it was a convenient way for me to end my streak and I haven't been back since.

It's kind of like the Ty-Rods Old Timers Reunion. That event used to be the place to be on the second Monday in September. If you didn't put your event application in the mail the same day you recieved it, you didn't make the cut.
Now, it's just like Macungie. Neither event sells out through pre-registration but they both had waiting lists before one individual took over the duties of the committee.

Both are little more than weekly cruise nights, now.

DESOTO sorry to hear about your tire,, im sure i havent been going to macungie as long as a lot of others,,but i enjoy the rods,,even tho i have a street rod and a prostreet car,,,always loved your kool paint sceme,,,hope to see your car some place again,, i look forward to macungie in august,,NSRA in june,,, no more good guys in the area,,,,

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